Axelar appoints Carl Harald Janson as CEO

Takes control as company prepares to take novel cancer drug to proof-of-concept

Swedish biotech Axelar has picked former board member Carl Harald Janson to take over from CEO Johan Harmenberg, who will remain at Axelar as chief medical officer.

Janson joins from KDev Oncology, the oncology division of Karolinska Developments, where he also served as CEO, having previously worked as VP portfolio management at Karolinska Development from 2008 to 2011.

“I am excited to lead the experienced team of Axelar and to continue the development of AXL1717. I look forward to take this potential novel cancer treatment to proof-of-concept,” said Janson.

AXL1717 is an inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor pathway and Axelar's lead compound and the company says it has potential in a wide range of cancers.

The biotech is currently running a randomised phase II clinical trial with AXL1717 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, while a first-in-man phase I/II clinical trial with the drug has been completed, demonstrating a good tolerability profile of the compound.